Hong Kong & Macau Named Highest Mobil Five-Star Rated Destination In History

The unveiling of the esteemed properties that made Mobil Travel Guide's coveted Star ratings list coincides with the brand's release of their second international guide, Mobil Travel Guide: Hong Kong & Macau.

The brand awarded five new Mobil Five-Star hotels and three new Mobil Five-Star spas in Hong Kong and Macau to the coveted Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star list, a list that consists of only sixty-nine properties globally. The newest Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star properties in Hong Kong and Macau include: The Peninsula Hong Kong, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, The Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, the Wynn Macau, The Mandarin Spa, The Peninsula Spa by ESPA and the Spa at Wynn Macau.

The honours were presented by Mobil Travel Guide and the Hong Kong Tourism Board at the prestigious ceremony at The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong on November 6. Key leaders in Hong Kong's tourism market, including many of the region's top hoteliers and government officials, welcomed the brand to the local market.

Shane O'Flaherty, President and CEO of Mobil Travel Guide, said: "The Mobil Travel Guide ratings reflect the best-of-the-best in hospitality excellence and have long been considered one of the highest achievements in the hospitality and travel industry as well as a trusted resource for millions of consumers looking to make more informed travel decisions. We spent over a year immersing ourselves into this region and while the physical properties in both Hong Kong and Macau are extraordinarily impressive, it is ultimately their meticulous attention to service that makes this region the ultimate Five-Star destination."

Mobil Travel Guide's second international title, Hong Kong & Macau, features details on the newest Mobil Star rated properties, as well as in-depth information on this popular tourist destination, including how to prepare for your trip, where to stay, dine, and shop; key cultural attractions; One, Two and Three Day itineraries, a comprehensive chapter on Hong Kong’s history; transportation information and useful tips on navigating the area.

Beyond the standard “must see attractions”, Hong Kong & Macau offers special “Inspector's Tips” dispersed throughout the guide, which provides indispensible insider details on how to make the most of the very best aspects of the city's hotels, spas, restaurants and sights, all uncovered by Mobil Travel Guide's expert staff.

Much like Las Vegas, Macau offers more than just a great gambling experience. The Macau portion of this guide includes information on hotels, resorts and casinos in the area as well as the best spas, shows, interesting festivals throughout the year, information on Macau's 25 heritage sites and a guide to the best shopping throughout the city.

Mobil Travel Guide: Hong Kong & Macau comes hot on the heels of the company's first ever international guide, Mobil Travel Guide: Beijing, which was released in May. Other international titles to be released in 2009 include Mobil Travel Guide: London (June), Mobil Travel Guide: Singapore (July) and Mobil Travel Guide: Dublin (September). Mobil Travel Guide: Beijing was released this past year.

Mobil Travel Guide provides the most comprehensive and objective hotel, restaurant and spa ratings and reviews in the United States and Canada, using hundreds of criteria for each vertical that are updated annually. Mobil Travel Guide's international Star rating system follows the same exemplary standards and guidelines followed by all Star award winners in the United States and Canada.

Mobil Travel Guide and Mobil Travel Guide's Star ratings system was launched in 1958 after the introduction of the United States' first interstate highway network. The Mobil Travel Guide book series was created to provide Star ratings that would advise travelers on where to stay and dine. Launched with just one guidebook, the U.S. Southwest, the company has grown to publish more than 40 titles covering properties around the world.

For a detailed explanation of how Mobil Travel Guide compiles its Star ratings, visit www.mobiltravelguide.com.

2008 Hong Kong and Macau Mobil Travel Guide Four- and Five-Star Award Winners
Mobil Five-Stars (5 Lodgings; 3 Spas)
Mobil Four-Stars (9 Lodgings; 6 Spas)

HONG KONG

Mobil Five-Star Lodgings
Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Mobil Four-Star Lodgings
Conrad Hong Kong
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
InterContinental Hong Kong
Kowloon Shangri-La
The Island Shangri-La

Mobil Five-Star Spas
The Mandarin Spa, (Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong)
The Peninsula Spa by ESPA

Mobil Four-Star Spas
The Oriental Spa (Landmark Mandarin Oriental)
Plateau Spa (Grand Hyatt Hong Kong)
The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong

MACAU

Mobil Five-Star Lodgings
Wynn Macau

Mobil Four-Star Lodgings
MGM Grand Macau
Crown Towers
Mandarin Oriental, Macau
Sands Macau

Mobil Five-Star Spas
Spa at Wynn Macau

Mobil Four-Star Spas
Six Senses Spa at MGM Grand Macau
The Spa at Crown
V SPA (The Venetian Macau Resort Hotel)

The Mobil Travel Guide Star ratings are defined as following:

A Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star hotel delivers consistently superlative service and a luxury environment with the ultimate in amenities. Guests are treated to the utmost in pampering, with every need anticipated and exceptional attention to detail shown from check-in to check-out. The hotel's facilities are of an exceptional design and quality, and include amenities such as a fine dining restaurant, first-class fitness center or top-notch spa. A Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star spa, located within a hotel or resort, provides exceptional service in a luxury environment. Service goes above and beyond the traditional spa experience, allowing guests to achieve the highest level of relaxation possible.

The Mobil Travel Guide Four-Star hotel is an outstanding establishment located in a distinctive setting that offers exceptional service. Amenities are refined, sophisticated and luxurious and may include automatic turndown service and 24-hour in-room dining. A Mobil Travel Guide Four-Star spa, located within a hotel or resort, offers a luxurious experience in an elegant and serene environment. The staff offers personalized service and an extensive selection of treatments including facials, massages, and salon services.

The Mobil Travel Guide Three-Star hotel is a well-appointed property with a full-service restaurant and expanded amenities such as valet service, luggage assistance, concierge service and a fitness center. The Mobil Travel Guide Three-Star Spa is a physically well-appointed facility within a hotel or resort that has a full complement of staff to meet the guest's needs.

A Mobil Travel Guide Two-Star hotel is a comfortable hotel that is clean and reliable with expanded amenities and services that include a full-service restaurant onsite. The hotel décor, furnishings, amenities, property grounds and guest room design will be moderately enhanced.

A Mobil Travel Guide One-Star hotel is a clean, comfortable and reliable hotel providing travellers with limited services and basic amenities. These properties focus on providing a value experience.